MULTIPURPOSE T-OXI OXIDATION

special processes

AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO WASHOUT PROCESSES

An innovative treatment of die-casted moulds developed by TAG

SERVICE

T-OXI® Oxidation is an innovative treatment TAG has developed for the industry of light alloys die-casting, and in particular of tool steels that are to be heat treated. There are a number of extremely complex issues in this specific field that need to be solved properly so as to ensure they don’t affect the quality of end products.

STANDARD

The treatment consists in a combination of plasma nitriding and controlled-potential oxidation processes performed after that a surface conditioning process has been carried out in order to make sure the component surface is active, thus facilitating the adhesion of the oxide surface layer. As a result, a chemical and mechanical barrier is formed on the surface of the treated part to prevent it from damage.

VALUE

The term “washout” sums up all types of damaging processes to casting moulds comprising a combination of weathering, corrosion, thermal-mechanical fatigue and gluing phenomena. T-OXI® Oxidation is used in such context as a surface heat treatment aimed at enhancing the properties of die-casted moulds by keeping “washout” damages down.

OUR METHOD

Why choose our T-OXI® Oxidation treatment

Two main advantages of the T-OXI® Oxidation treatment include dimensional stability and thus the possibility to perform the treatment also on finished parts and the possibility to perform it on a variety of mould types and materials.

ADVANTAGES

The T-OXI® Oxidation treatment has been specifically developed for tool steels aimed at heat treatment, i.e. steels with a specific percentage of alloying elements, such as Cr, V and Mo. However, the treatment can also be performed on other type of material by previously setting proper parameters.

The low treatment temperatures T-OXI® Oxidation process is performed at – much lower than those typically used when tempering such steels – ensure further dimensional stability and consistent hardness. Therefore the process can, and should, be carried out on end parts

PREPARATORY PROCESSES

In order to make sure the internal microstructure is suitable for the purpose of the further T-OXI® Oxidation cycle, the base material needs decontaminating. If components, prior to the surface treating, have been subject to sampling and thus have residual aluminium or surface oxidation content, at TAG we perform a reconditioning process using a micro grit-blasting technique in order to prepare the area to be treated.